76 INTRODUCTION OK DOMESTIC REINDEER INTO ALASKA. 



can reach there is not a break, not an elevation. On the other side is 

 a deep basin inclosed by mountains of various sizes and shapes. 

 Back of these again are other peaks which rival each other in raising 

 their hoary heads toward the heavens, and, though it be only the 

 Arctic December sun which illuminates their mantle of snow, the 

 splendor is unexcelled. Never can tea be drunk in a more luxuri- 

 ously prepared crystal palace, and never could it taste better than it 

 did in this big and great palace of nature prepared by God Himself. 

 We could not but feel grateful for being privileged to view this scene 

 in the splendor of noon. At 4 o'clock camp was made among some 

 low alders on the slope toward the sea. We are now about halfway 

 between Andreafski and St. Michael. 



Friday, December 18. — This has also been a beautiful day, but very 

 cold. There was a light northerly breeze all day, and as we traveled 

 right against it our noses were quite troubled in that they had a 

 tendency to turn white and hard as soon as they were left to them- 

 selves for a few moments. Still none of our party had any serious 

 results from this fact. This evening our camp is just in line with a 

 little knoll on the sea, the name of wliich is unknown. Cape Romanoff 

 could be seen a few minutes before dark. 



Saturday, Deceryiher 19. — Camp was left before 7 o'clock this morn- 

 ing and we have traveled quite well all day, and are to-night camped 

 a few miles to the east of Cape Romanoff and in a direct line with it. 

 To thaw out our frozen meat was specially difficult this evening, 

 because we have no more wood on our sleds and here is nothing to be 

 had but very small and green willows that can hardly warm them- 

 selves, much less anything else* It seems colder to-night than it has 

 at any time since we left home. 



Sunday, December 20. — St. Michael,. 10 p. m. At last we are here 

 after a pretty hard day's tramp. The trail on the coast from Pikmik- 

 latik to St. Michael was most excellent, but the moss fields were far to 

 the east of our course, and we being desirous to reach St. Michael 

 to-day made use of a portion of the niglit to accomplish our task. 

 The weather has been beautiful to-day also, but it became foggy in 

 the evening, and before we knew it Mr. Bals was lost and could not be 

 found. Of course Nallogoroak and I could not stop and search in 

 such a fog. So we continued on to our destination well knowing that 

 Bals would show up there either this evening or in the morning. He 

 had some food on his sled and also sleeping bag, so in reality there 

 was no danger and we tried to not worry about him. 



Monday, December 21. — I spent last night without sleep, partly 

 because of Bals being missing and ]^artly because of fear of dogs. 

 At 7 o'clock a. m. I started off across the bay for St. Michael to see if 

 Bals had come there, and wliile I was gone Nallogoroak should watch 



